Gisborne based Diekaiju - Gojira tribute band. A djentle way to start HELL Smash Fest VI!
Read MoreFlying high on the back of December 2017's release Riding A Tiger On Fire / Fighting A Bear At Same Time - Auckland based Remote showed just how they fight animals.
Ungracefully stolen from their Facebook page - from the flames of MetalTower and the embers of Nullifier comes New Zealand's' newest melodic black/death metal band Sciolism!
Read MoreLocal Gisborne lads MetalTower never cease to impress - whilst they may lack in on stage antics, the banter and music is there in spades
Read MoreI'd heard many a good word of Hamilton founded, Melbourne based Logic Defies Logic but never found myself with a moment to check them out, so knowing they were slotted in for HELL Smash Fest VI this was one act I was highly looking forward to seeing - opting to not check them out until the fest I was blown away - an awesome mix of groove, funk, and progressive metal that ticked all my favourite boxes.
Read MoreA humid and slightly damp outlook started Hawke's Bay’s New Year as Devilskin completed their three stop New Year tour of New Plymouth, Wellington, finishing up here in Napier at the Pettigrew Green Area - along for the ride were fellow Hamiltonians Seas of Conflict and Auckland based Skinny Hobos.
Read MoreCarnal - an apt and fitting name for the cacophonous dirge of brutal death metal on offer here.
Read MoreComing in as my second favorite set of HELL Smash Fest VI was Auckland based Stormforge - melodic power metal that's IMHO on par, if not better than a lot of international acts of a similar vein. This was by far the best I've heard the 'forge play - and it was somewhat fitting that the first small showers from the heavens opened up as they played - a Storm in the Forge as it were.
Read MoreWellington based Bulletbelt conducted their first live performance with new recruits Josh Obrien (guitars) and Scott Spatcher-Harrison (vocals) and did not disappoint.
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